Question

A microbiologist inoculates Staphylococcus aureus into a culture medium. Following incubation, both Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis are determined to be growing in this culture. What is the most likely explanation?

Answer 1

Answer:

The culture is contaminated              

Explanation:

The most likely explanation for the observation is that the culture medium is contaminated. A pure culture is one which supports the growth of only one species of microorganism. Identifying the growth of another specie of microorganism is an indication that the culture is contaminated and not pure.